Despite how challenging it seems on the surface, Microsoft is still adamant about bringing its Xbox Game Pass subscription service to as many screens as possible, which includes PlayStation and Nintendo consoles as well.
Xbox Game Pass for Everyone?
Xbox Chief Financial Officer Tim Stuart said in the recently concluded Wells Fargo TMT Summit that the company aims to make its first-party games via the Xbox Game Pass available to "every screen that can play games," such as smart TVs, mobile devices, and even consoles from Microsoft's long-time rivals, PlayStation and Nintendo.
This is part of the company's plan to expand into various areas of gaming, including delivering first-party games to as many players as possible, and advertising in the form of in-game ads and microtransactions.
While it's great for consumers to have Xbox Game Pass readily accessible on other platforms, actually bringing the subscription service to rival consoles might be a very challenging endeavor.
Last year, Sony elected to "protect its revenues from sales of newly released games" by not offering them to users via the company's own PlayStation Plus service. Additionally, Sony has blocked Xbox Game Pass from PlayStation since gamers still have the ability to buy the popular first-person shooter Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles anyway. This is despite Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision-Blizzard at the time.
For those who do not know, Activision Blizzard is home to a number of popular games, such as World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch 2, and Starcraft II. Not to mention that the company offers games from the Call of Duty franchise as well.
On Nintendo's side, the company is offering its own subscription service called the Nintendo Switch Online. It has a massive portfolio of games from the NES, Super NES, and Game Boy consoles, including old-school favorites like Donkey Kong Country, Legend of Zelda; Link's Awakening, and Super Mario Bros., among many others.
Aside from that, Nintendo Switch Online allows subscribers to purchase vouchers that they can use on future games to score some savings.
With rival companies offering their own subscription services, making Xbox Game Pass available to other platforms is a tall order. The gaming community could only hope that one day, these companies might reconsider Microsoft's offer.
Read Also: Xbox Game Pass Remains Behind PlayStation Plus In Terms Of Subscribers
What is It?
So, what exactly is Xbox Game Pass? Well, it is a subscription service offered by Microsoft that allows people to play games and exclusive titles for a monthly fee. Those who avail of the service can play their favorite titles on Xbox consoles and PC.
What makes Xbox Game Pass amazing is that it has a ton of great titles in its portfolio. Players can enjoy Forza Motorsport, Lies of P, and even the Xbox-exclusive space exploration game Starfield, just to name a few.
Players can pay for a PC-only or Console-only subscription for just $9.99. However, they also have the option of getting the "Ultimate" pass if they want support for both platforms.
With Microsoft's insistence to put Xbox Game Pass on Sony and Nintendo consoles, do you think that the plan will succeed or not?
Related Article: There's An Xbox Game Pass Family Plan Already - But Only In Select Regions
